Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1887-05-27
Gold Leaf.
Now York Evening Sun.

Gold leaf is manufactured in about
twenty shops in New York and its
suburbs. 1t is estimated that 20,SOO
ounces of gold are consumed annually
here in making gold leaf Gold can
be beaten SO thin that it will take
l 200 leaves to equal the thickness OF
the sheet upon which this paper is
printed. An ounce can be beaten
down to $500 leaves 81 inches square.
At an establishment in Hudson
street reporter was told that the
gold is bought of brokers' in small
ingots, which are melted into bars
about quarter of an inch thick.
These are rolled into a ribbon as thick
as note paper. After passing through
the hands of the beaters it is put in
books, interleaved with MANILA tissue,
and twenty books are put in pack
age. The ordinary sells for 81 a
package, and the best 81 so to 81 Is
No dross comes from the gold as it is
beaten, but there are ragged edges
that drop off. The leaf is used by
gilders, bookbinders, dentists and sign
painters.
1.-THE wages of gold-beaters are $11
a week. A piece-hand gets S. beat
ing. A good one can possibly do two
a week, and as many as nine a month
have been done. Extra is paid if the
workman beats the gold below five
grains to a book. Some can 60 to
four and half and even four grains
per book"
How thin can you get it?" a
beater in Broome street was asked.
at is beaten to one three-hundred-
thOusandth of an inch thick at five
grains to the book. If it gets down to
four grains it is one three-hundred-and
sixty-thousandth of an inch. The
New York system employs men only,
with girls to do the cutting The
German system employs children of
or 8, which system Hastings, of Phila-
delphia, tried to introduce here, but
his workmen struck and he lost his
lead. On that system men do the
beating and girls do the priming and
filing"
"How is the gold beaten?"
"It is beaten in moulds made in
London from the intestines of cows
cleaned and vanished with q secret
preparation manufactured by Puck
ridge & Nephew, of London. The
skins are put in packages of 900 skins
each, and three of these moulds 20 to
beating"
How much gold is there in a
beating?"
FIFTY pennyweights in a beating.
The ribbon of solid gold is divided into
ITO or $50 pieces, each about an inch
square. These are put into a cutch
made of French paper four inches
square. That is beaten until we get
the gold to the edges. 1t is handled
with pincers at that time. 1t is beaten
half an hour. The pieces are then
piled twenty on top of each other.
They are then cut in four and doubled
over, making 72O. They are then put
in schoder,' or finer mould cut
down. We fill the 'schoder' with
these leaves in the middle, and beat
it out to the edges. We beat it about
two hours, until we draw about ten
pennyweights off the schroeder"
"Does it have to be kept dryf"
ave have to keep the windows
shut; but the clutches, schoders and
mOulds take up so much moisture
that they have to be put in a hot
mould to press the moisture out"
"Does that finish it?"
"Oh, no. The leaves are cut again
into four with tool called wagon,
making $3.50, but the moulds hold
only 2,7OO. The moulds are beaten
four hours, at the end of each hour
there being what is called a close,
when they are heated. Then the
beater is through with it and the cut
ter takes it. This is the only work
done by the girls in New York. They
can cut from thirty to sixty-four
books day, at p cents book. The
leaf, when it gets in a book, is so thin
that it is handled only with the
BREATH"
How is the work tested?"
"Only with the eye. There is no
rule about the business, but it is surely
a matter of skill and judgment. The
best is the kind used on glass, which
shows all imperfections."
al notice gold-beaters usually work
in easements. Why is that?"
A firmer blow can be given. If on
the first story, there is jar, it deteri-
crates the quality"
"Is there any adulteration in the
business?"
"The Germans beat what is called
a metal leaf, with an alloy. 1t is sold
very cheap. 1t is the oleomargarine
of gold-leaf and will tarnish. Much
of it is used by bookbinders."
when did the trade start?"
at is very ancient. 1t is mentioned
in the Bible. Gold was used on Solo
mons Temple. The Chinese beat
gold-leaf. but it cannot compare in
quality with American leaf. Some of